"Everything is learning": Fotu's focus for Suns' Round 4

Photo: Michael Farnell

Although NBL1 West is still just three rounds into its season, this weekend’s double-header has the potential to be season-defining for the Eastern Suns.

The women's Suns currently sit in ninth position on the ladder through three games. They have registered their solitary victory for the campaign so far in a breathless three-point win over East Perth in Round 2, but a pair of Round 4 defeats could see them lose pace with the competition’s top sides.

The Rockingham Flames have surged out of the pack to sit atop the standings with a 5-0 record, while Cockburn and Joondalup are also undefeated having played three games apiece.

The Suns suffered a 29-point defeat to the Cougars in their last clash, and ahead of this weekend’s games against fourth-placed Warwick and tenth-placed Perth, Ella Fotu says her side needs to focus on fixing its own mistakes.

"For us, we’re definitely still getting to know each other and the flow of the game,” Fotu said on Fast Break.

“I think learning each other and realizing the threats in other teams, because sometimes we don’t know the names – especially the imports. It’s just trying to get to know each other and the threats and trying to shut them down. Everything is learning.

“We just have to keep working on the little things. For us, it feels like getting our flow, flowing into moves and stuff, and stopping fast breaks from the other team on transition.

“I can’t say much about them – I’ll definitely do my scout this week – but focusing on our little fixes will help.”

This season is Fotu’s first in NBL1 West, but the 27-year-old has entered the competition with a serious resume.

She’s represented the Tall Ferns at both FIBA Asia Cup and Olympic qualifying stages, and has established herself as one of the top 3x3 players in the nation.

She was recently part of the New Zealand side that won the silver medal at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup, having lost to Anneli Maley’s Australia side in the final.

Fotu says she’s still adapting to the slightly different Australian style of basketball at this early stage of the season.

“Since I’m so new it’s still seeing what’s out there, but at the moment not too much difference,” she said.

“I could maybe say adjusting to some calls, but just different reffing in certain stuff, but player-wise it’s similar. Everyone’s very fundamental here, I feel.

“I got two fouls in the first two minutes so I need to chill with my fouls – I got fouled out last game too.”

The Eastern Suns will tackle the Warwick Senators at 6:30pm AWST on Friday night, before they then clash with the Perth Redbacks on Saturday, April 20 at 5pm AWST live via NBL1.com.au or the NBL1 App.